Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons are for her assessment that the UK would not be able to achieve the Government's original target of a 20 per cent. carbon dioxide reduction by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: While the projections published by DTI in November 2004 confirmed that, on the basis of existing policy measures, we were on track to go well beyond our Kyoto Protocol commitment, they also showed that we were only likely to achieve a 14 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.
	The shortfall is because projected emissions were higher than previous estimates due mainly to lower nuclear generation, higher electricity demand and higher coal generation and because the measures to reduce emissions were in aggregate expected to deliver less than originally anticipated. The current review of the UK's Climate Change Programme will consider what additional measures are needed to close the gap.
	A copy of the DTI exercise to update energy and emissions projections is at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/projections.pdf
	A copy of the addendum to the November report is at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep addendum.pdf

Chicken Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on (i) the effects on the welfare of hens of enriched battery cages and (ii) the economic effects of switching to alternative systems; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra research into the welfare aspects of enriched cages is on-going. Details of current and past projects and reports can be found on the Defra website.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment was prepared during implementation of Council Directive 99/74/EC concerning the welfare of laying hens. To help formulate our thinking for the next review of the Directive, we will be taking into account the latest scientific and veterinary information on the different systems of laying hens production as well as environmental, political, social and economic factors.

Building Regulations

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential to achieve the objectives of (a) lower fuel bills and (b) lower carbon emissions through amending Part L of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The most recent assessment is contained in the consultation document published last July by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. That document contains proposals to raise the standards in Part L this year in line with the commitments in the Energy White Paper. As normal the proposals aim to achieve substantial improvements consistent with Better Regulation policy, cost-effectiveness, design flexibility and the avoidance of excessive technical risks.

New Build Standards (South Midlands)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether the Building Research Establishment standards of (a) EcoHomes and (b) BREAM will be applied in the construction of new homes in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-region as part of the sustainable communities plan;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the proposed new housing in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-region has high standards of energy efficiency and thermal insulation.

Phil Hope: The Government are not in a position to impose mandatory environmental standards specific to housing in the Milton Keynes South Midlands sub-region as the boundaries of the growth areas do not have any legal status. Furthermore, to set such mandatory standards could potentially lead to perverse consequences, by providing a disincentive to development in the growth areas relative to other areas.
	However, the Government are keen to promote the construction of sustainable and energy efficient housing in the growth areas and believes that local delivery vehicles (LDVs) have an important role to play in promoting all aspects of sustainable development. Draft guidance has been circulated to the LDVs in the newer growth areas which identifies achievement of high quality design and higher environmental performance as being among their main objectives.
	More generally, the Government are keen to promote environmentally sustainable and energy efficient housing throughout the country. In line with the commitments made in the Energy White Paper and at the Better Building Conference work is in train on bringing the next major revision of the building regulations energy efficiency provisions into effect this year and to publish a Sustainable Buildings Code that will encourage energy efficiency standards above those in the regulations and address sustainability more widely. For publicly funded housing, the Housing Corporation is already recommending that social housing schemes should achieve an EcoHomes rating of "very good" from April 2005 with the "good" rating as an essential condition for a project to receive a grant.

Digital Switchover

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Government intend to launch a public awareness campaign in advance of digital switchover; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 19 January 2005
	The responsibility for communicating the switchover process and ensuring that everyone gets all the right information well in advance will primarily be one for "Switchco", broadcasters and the supply chain. The Government will continue to take responsibility for communicating its switchover policy, and we have been running, since November, a campaign to help raise awareness of digital switchover through the mainstream media, which will continue until March.

Child Benefit (Hartlepool)

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of additional 16 to 19-year-olds in Hartlepool that will be entitled to child benefit if the Child Benefit Bill receives Royal Assent.

Dawn Primarolo: If the Child Benefit Bill receives Royal Assent it will enable the Government to extend child benefit to the families of unwaged trainees on Government Supported Training and the families of 19-year-olds in full-time education or training finishing a course.
	In relation to the number of families who may gain from the extension of child benefit for unwaged trainees, there were approximately 4,750 young people aged 16–19 on unwaged Government Supported Training courses in Tees Valley Local Learning and Skills Council in 2003–04.
	There is insufficient data to estimate the number of families who would gain from the extension of child benefit to over 19-year-olds finishing their courses.

Criminal Offences

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department in the (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 session, broken down by Act.

Stephen Timms: The following provisions created criminal offences in primary legislation sponsored by HM Treasury in the 2002–03 and 2003–04 sessions:
	Finance Act 2003
	Section 17(5)—Being supplied with goods or services in contravention of paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 11 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (Power to require security and production of evidence).
	Section 94—Delay or obstruction of officer inspecting premises.
	Section 95—Fraudulent evasion of tax.
	Schedule 13, paragraph 53—Falsification, concealment, destruction or disposal of documents.
	Child Trust Funds Act 2004
	Section 18—Disclosure of information held in exercise of child trust fund functions.
	Finance Act 2004
	Schedule 1, paragraph 5—Possession, sale etc. of unstamped containers containing liquor.
	Schedule 1, paragraph 6—Use of premises for sale of liquor in or from unstamped containers.
	Schedule 1, paragraph 7—Sale of liquor following conviction for offence under paragraph 6
	National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments Act 2004
	Section 7—Falsification, concealment, destruction or disposal of documents delivered or made available under section 110ZA of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (Class 1, 1A, 78 or 2 contributions: powers to call for documents etc).
	Section 8—as for section 7 above, but in respect of Northern Ireland

Departmental Expenditure

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the running costs of the Department were in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) electricity, (b) water, (c) gas, (d) telephones, (e) mobile telephones and (f) televisions;
	(2)  how much has been spent by his Department on lighting in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: In respect of water costs for all years and electricity costs for the years up to 2002–03, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given by the then Financial Secretary (Ruth Kelly) to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 14 July 2004, Official Report, column 1134W. For the Treasury, the costs of electricity, gas, telephones (including mobile telephones) and television licences for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are given in the following table. It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of lighting from total electricity costs. Information in respect of the earlier years, and the cost of mobile telephones disaggregated from total telephone costs, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   £000 
			  2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Electricity 288 260 
			 Gas 3 4 
			 Telephones, including mobile telephones 1,592 1,416 
			 Television licences 0.2 0.2

European Communities Medium Term Financial Assistance

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what actions were funded in 2004 through European Communities' Medium Term Financial Assistance funds within the special reserve for borrowing and lending Activities.

Stephen Timms: In 2004, one action was carried out through the European Communities' Medium Term Financial Assistance funds: a loan disbursement of €10.0 million (£7.0 million 1 ) to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
	Details of the borrowing and lending activities conducted by the European Communities are published every six months in reports from the Commission on guarantees covered by the general budget. The reports are deposited in the Library of the House.
	1 Converted at the average annual rate for 2003 of £1 = €1.4320

National Minimum Wage (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have benefited from the national minimum wage in the Nottingham, North constituency.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 25 January 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have benefited from the national minimum wage in Nottingham North Parliamentary Constituency. I am replying in his absence. (211011)
	Estimates for the number of jobs paid below the minimum wage for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available. However, the Office for National Statistics calculates estimates of the number of jobs paid less than national minimum wage rates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions. A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles and data can be found on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837&Pos=l&ColRank=l&Rank =272

Tax Credits

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people were overpaid (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit during 2003–04;
	(2)  how many families received (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit recovery notices during 2003–04.

Dawn Primarolo: For the number of tax credits overpayments, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W.
	Overpayments of tax credits are established after the end of the tax year, when final income and circumstances for the previous year are known and the award can be finalised. Where an award of tax credits has ceased and there remains an overpayment to be recovered, the Inland Revenue issues claimants with a 'Notice to Pay'. A small number of these notices were issued to recover tax credits in 2003–04, where awards were terminated on the grounds of no entitlement. To the end of March 2004, around 3,000 had been issued.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average amount of compensation for errors paid by the Inland Revenue to claimants of tax credits was between April 2003 and December 2004;
	(2)  how many of the compensation payments made for errors to tax credits claimants between April 2003 and December 2004, were for (a) £0-£25, (b) £25-£50, (c) £50-£100, (d) £100-£150, (e) £150-£200, (f) £250-£300, (g) £300-£350, (h) £350-£400, (i) £400-£450 and (j) £450-£500.

Dawn Primarolo: The circumstances in which the Inland Revenue will make compensation payments to its customers are explained In the Department's Code of Practice 1 "Putting things right when we make mistakes" which is available at www.inlandrevenue. gov.uk. The Department will pay compensation for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of their mistakes or delays and to recognise worry and distress caused by those mistakes or delays.
	For the average amount of compensation authorised by the Inland Revenue to claimants of tax credits in 2003–04 I refer my right hon. Friend to paragraph 2.15 in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General attached to the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2004.
	The average amount of compensation paid in the period 1 April to 31 December 2004 was £63.
	The detailed information sought by the right hon. Gentleman relating to compensation payments for errors between April 2003 and December 2004 is available only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Mr. Fitzgerald and Ms Johnson of Rock Ferry, constituents of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, will receive their tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue wrote to the right hon. Member's constituents on 24 January 2005.

VAT (Trade Union Subscriptions)

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is charged on trade union membership subscription.

Dawn Primarolo: VAT is not charged on trade union membership subscriptions.
	"Trade union" in VAT legislation has the meaning assigned to it by section 1 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter from the honourable Member for the Isle of Wight dated 26 October 2004 concerning John Havies.

Mike O'Brien: Your letter was received on 29 October, unfortunately, due to an administrative error, it was overlooked for which I apologise. It has now become apparent that your concerns are the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and your letter is being transferred to them with a request that they respond as soon as possible.

Homeworkers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she plans to publish the results of her consultation on changes to the law on the rights of homeworkers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We aim to issue a Government response to the consultation on the Discussion Document on Employment Status in relation to Statutory Employment Rights this year. This review has been considering the position of diverse groups of working individuals, including the clergy, agency workers and homeworkers.

Ministerial Cars

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which individuals other than Ministers have had the use of Government cars provided for ministerial use in each year since 2000.

David Miliband: holding answer 24 January 2005
	The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to continue payment of education maintenance allowance to juveniles in custody aged 16 years and over.

Ivan Lewis: The payment of EMA to young people in detention was trialled in some pilot areas including Stoke on Trent. Experience from the pilots was used to inform the design of the national scheme.
	Under the national scheme EMA is not available to young people in custody aged 16 years and over. The reason is that EMA is an incentive to support young people with the costs of their learning, and for those in custody these costs are already met. Connexions services and other agencies promote EMA as part of a range of services and support to help young people leaving custody return to learning.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students aged 16 to 18 years in each institution in Stoke-on-Trent were in receipt of education maintenance allowance in each of the past five years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department did not collect data about the number of students aged 16 to 18 in each institution in Stoke-on-Trent who were in receipt of education maintenance allowance during the pilot stage.
	We do collect this data for the national scheme which began in September 2004. The list gives those institutions in the Stoke-on-Trent local education authority area, and the number of students in each who have received education maintenance allowance as part of the national scheme, as at 6 January 2005. The total figure excludes students who are resident in the Stoke-on-Trent LEA area but who study in institutions outside this LEA area.
	
		
			   School/College Scheme take up 
		
		
			 121460 St. Margaret Ward Catholic School and Arts  College 61 
			 124465 St. Thomas More Catholic College 51 
			 124500 Abbey Hill School and Performing Arts College 10 
			 124502 Heathfield Special School 3 
			 124503 Kemball Special School 7 
			 130815 Stoke-on-Trent College 1,109 
			 130817 City of Stoke- on-Trent 6th Form College 348 
			 131301 St. Joseph's College 45 
			 NS1010 MORE Training Ltd. 8 
			 Total  2,142

Independent Schools (Pre-registration)

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many independent schools there are in the pre-registration category; how many have had (a) one visit and (b) two allotted visits; and how many are faith schools, broken down by faith.

Derek Twigg: There are 148 provisionally registered schools in the transitional phase of registration. 123 have had one visit and 25 have had both of their allotted visits. 76 are faith schools, 41 being Muslim, 30 Christian Brethren, four Evangelical Christian and one Jewish.

Parliamentary Questions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Maidenhead on 21 December 2004, reference (a) 207312 and (b) 207313.

Margaret Hodge: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for School Standards has today replied to PQ 207312. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 January 2005, Official Report, columns 70–71W, or the reply to PQ 207313.

Pupil Exclusions

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have been permanently excluded from schools in (a) the West Suffolk parliamentary constituency and (b) the county of Suffolk in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The available information is given in the table.
	Exclusions data for 200/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03 are known to have been under-reported by some schools. The Department carried out a checking exercise, but this was at LEA level only. As a result this information is not available at parliamentary constituency level for the three most recent years.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools1,2: number and percentage of permanently excluded pupils 1997/98 to 2002/03
		
			  West Suffolk parliamentary constituency Suffolk LEA 
			  Number Percentage(3) Number Percentage(3) 
		
		
			 1997/98 18 0.14 129 0.13 
			 1998/99 16 0.13 124 0.12 
			 1999/2000 19 0.15 100 0.10 
			 2000/01 n/a n/a 147 0.14 
			 2001/02 n/a n/a 161 0.16 
			 2002/03 n/a n/a 150 0.15 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(2) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(3) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils, excluding dually registered pupils.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average size is of (a) maintained school sixth forms and (b) sixth form colleges in each (i) local education authority and (ii) learning and skills council area.

Derek Twigg: The requested information relating to maintained school sixth forms has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The number of learners and size of sixth form colleges is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Sixth Forms

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the reasons for higher participation rates in full-time education and training of pupils from maintained schools with sixth forms.

Ivan Lewis: The report "The Influence of the School in the decision to participate in learning post-16" indicated a number of reasons why the provision of a sixth form within a school might be an important influence on the decision of young people to participate in post-16 education and training:
	(i) "Schools with sixth forms have a ready made post-16 route and pupils are more channelled in their choices and decisions." Such schools often actively promoting post-16 academic routes, compared to other forms of post-16 participation which were much less clearly promoted. In schools with no sixth form there was a greater element of choice and decisions were aimed more generally at providing students with opportunities that more adequately addressed their needs.
	(ii) "Careers advice in schools with sixth forms was found to be qualitatively different from that in 11 to 16 schools." Pupils attending 11 to 16 schools were more positive about the careers education they had received and often exposed to a rich network of information, guidance and advice from diverse sources. Pupils in schools with sixth forms felt their advice and guidance to be less impartial than those in schools with no sixth form. Schools with sixth forms tended to have a strong academic tradition and a focus on university entrance, and an expectation that students would continue in full-time education post-16 which may not be the right decision for the young people concerned.
	(iii) "There was a greater tendency in schools with a sixth form to provide post-16 advice and guidance which is more closely related to academic sixth form provision." Knowledge about post-16 provision in schools and colleges tended to be strongest among pupils in schools with sixth forms and weakest in schools with no sixth forms. The opposite was true about knowledge of post-16 training and labour markets.
	Other important influential issues of the school "in the decision of young people to participate in learning post-16" were the socio-economic environment of the school, and the schools' culture, ethos and leadership.

Trans Fats

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) others about the effects of partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in school dinners; and if she will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has had no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health, or any others, on this issue.
	However, this Department works closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), who provide information to the public and Government on food safety, nutrition and diet. We have a formal agreement with FSA which requires them to inform us, without delay, of any information on food safety, nutrition and diet that requires us to take action.
	This Department together with the Department of Health, Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs and the FSA, have jointly provided £1.1 million that will be used over the next three years to improve school meals. We will be revising both primary and secondary school meal standards, to reduce the consumption of fat, as well as salt and sugar and increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
	In our guidance, 'Healthy School Lunches', we advise that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats should be used wherever possible. www.dfes.gov.uk/schoollunches.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the price in dollars of 20 litres of (a) kerosene and (b) petrol was in Baghdad in January (i) 2000 and (ii) 2005.

Bill Rammell: holding answer of 24 January 2005
	Official prices for kerosene and benzene (petrol) have not changed since 1999. Using an exchange rate of 1 Iraqi Dinar (ID) = 0.0008$ on 01 January 2000 and 1ID = 0.00068$ on 01 January 2005, 20 litres of kerosene cost 16 cents in January 2000 and 14 cents in January 2005. 20 litres of benzene cost 32 cents in 2000 and 27 cents in 2005.

Eritrea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Eritrea concerning the arrest of 60 members of the Ream Charismatic Church in Asmara.

Chris Mullin: We raise the issue of religious freedom with the Eritrean Government regularly. Our Chargé d'Affaires raised this case on 18 January and I raised the issue with President Isaias, in Asmara, during my visit there in January last year. We will continue to make clear our concern.

Iran

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's assessment of Iran's nuclear programme.

Denis MacShane: We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. Together with the French and German Governments and representatives of the European Union, we are engaged in dialogue with the Iranian Government in order to resolve these concerns. The Government believe that, to restore confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, it is essential for Iran to agree, as part of this process, to cease permanently all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs published on 18 January a White Paper, "Iran's nuclear programme: a collection of documents" which draws together public documents on Iran's nuclear programme since September 2002.

Jamaica

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Jamaican citizens have been refused entry into the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.

Chris Mullin: From April 2002-March 2003 the visa section in Kingston received 10,185 applications and refused 2,736; a refusal rate of 26.9 per cent.
	Following the introduction of the requirement for all Jamaican nationals (including visitors) to have visas to enter the United Kingdom in January 2003, applications from April 2003-March 2004 went up to 26, 603 and 11,646 were refused; a refusal rate of 43.8 per cent.
	Figures on refusal rates for 2004–05 are not yet available. When they are, they will be posted on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk. Further entry clearance statistics are available on the UKvisas website at "Entry Clearance: Facts and Figures".

Madagascar

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how the UK diplomatic presence in and relations with Madagascar will be maintained if the British embassy is closed;
	(2)  if he will appoint a one man diplomatic mission at Chargé d'Affaires level instead of the proposed nomination of an honorary Consul in place of the embassy in Madagascar.

Chris Mullin: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained in his written statement on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, we have decided to close our Embassy in Madagascar, while maintaining an honorary Consul in Antananarivo and non-resident accreditation from Port Louis. This reflects the need to better align our resources with our priorities, to maximise efficiency, and to ensure that the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation.

Proof of Death

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  which (a) Departments, (b) Ministers and (c) officials are involved in the review into the criteria necessary for proof of death abroad in exceptional circumstances following the Asian tsunami disaster;
	(2)  what progress has been made in reviewing the criteria necessary for proof of death abroad in exceptional circumstances following the Asian tsunami disaster;
	(3)  who will be consulted in the course of the review into the criteria necessary for proof of death abroad in exceptional circumstances following the Asian tsunami disaster;
	(4)  what timescale has been set for the review into the criteria necessary for proof of death abroad in exceptional circumstances following the Asian tsunami disaster.

Chris Mullin: holding answer of 24 January 2005
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Alexander) made on 24 January 2005, Official Report, columns 5–6WS.

Departmental Efficiency Programme

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned headcount changes attributable to his Department's efficiency programme are for the (a) Army Base Repair Organisation, (b) Defence Aviation Repair Agency, (c) Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, (d) Meteorological Office and (e) UK Hydrographic Office for financial years (i) 2005–06, (ii) 2006–07 and (iii) 2007–08.

Adam Ingram: The published headcount reductions for the Ministry of Defence Efficiency Programme does not include headcount changes for these agencies.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) costs and (b) penalties would arise from a decision to cancel Tranche 2 of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 January 2005
	Under the international collaborative production arrangements for Typhoon, manufacturing work has been allocated between partner nations in proportion to their respective numerical requirements for the aircraft. Cancellation of the United Kingdom's Tranche 2 order would necessitate re-allocation of workshare to partner nations in order to re-balance these proportions and the UK would be required to compensate the other nations for the extra costs incurred, up to the total amount the UK would have paid had we not cancelled the order.
	In addition to these costs, the cancellation of Tranche 2 would result in a failure to equip the Royal Air Force with a key element of its future fighting capability, a significant loss of UK manufacturing and an associated loss of jobs and skills across the

European Rapid Reaction Force

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects the UK contribution to the European Rapid Reaction Force to be future rapid effect system equipped when that vehicle family enters service.

Adam Ingram: There is no standing European Rapid Reaction Force nor any EU agreement to create one. What has sometimes been referred to as a "European Rapid Reaction Force" is, in fact, a catalogue of forces which member states could make available to the EU should they choose to participate in a particular EU-led operation. Any contribution to a particular EU-led operation would depend on the operation's requirements and the availability of forces at the time.
	One of the purposes of FRES is to improve the ability of United Kingdom forces to achieve rapid effect by providing a highly capable but rapidly deployable family of vehicles as the central pillar of the Medium Weight Force. Therefore, it is likely that the UK may, in the future, offer FRES equipped forces as part of the EU "catalogue".

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the free post service to Iraq.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to change the current entitlement to free aerogramme letters (blueys) or their electronic version (eblueys) to service personnel deployed on operations.
	In respect of the free postal packet scheme to Iraq which ceased on 8 April 2004, there are no plans to permanently re-instate this service. I refer the hon. Member to my written ministerial statement of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 70WS, and subsequent answers of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1605W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson), 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 1527W, to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall), 15 June 2004, Official Report, column 811W, to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike), 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 713W and 4 October 2004, Official Report, column 1882W to the hon. Member for Bately and Spen (Mr. Wood).
	However, on 3 November 2004 when the Prime Minister announced the temporary reinstatement of the free postal packet scheme for a limited period at Christmas, he did promise a review after the scheme finished (15 December 2004), 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 304.
	A formal review cannot be carried out until the detailed costs of the scheme have been captured from the Royal Mail Group, Defence Logistic Agency and British Forces Post Office. This is unlikely to happen before February 2005. However, I can inform the House that over the period 17 November-15 December 2004 when the scheme was in place approximately 112,000 Kg of packets were successfully processed by the British Forces Post Office Depot at Mill Hill so that they would reach service personnel deployed worldwide in time for Christmas.

Ministerial Visits

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has visited (a) The Black Watch, (b) The Royal Scots, (c) The Highlanders, (d) The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (e) The King's Own Scottish Borderers and (f) The Royal Highland Fusiliers regiments; and where each visit took place.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 20 December 2004, Official Report, column 1374W.

Telephone Numbers

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much revenue his Department has received from the use of non-geographic 0870 telephone numbers for the period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tsunami (Military Assistance)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military (a) assistance and (b) aid the UK has provided to each country following the tsunami disaster; what plans he has made for further military (i) assistance and (ii) aid to each country; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The following military assets were assigned to assist in the relief operation in the Indian ocean.
	The frigate HMS Chatham (which carries two Lynx helicopters) was redirected to the area on 30 December, arriving on 3 January; and the support ship RFA Diligence, already in the region, joined Chatham off Sri Lanka on 5 January. These vessels have undertaken a number of relief tasks, including assistance to the town of Baticoloa in the east of Sri Lanka, and provision of engineers to the Maldives to assist with refurbishment of generators and desalination equipment. Chatham and Diligence have worked closely with an Observation, Liaison and Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) which deployed to Colombo on 31 December, part of which also deployed to the Maldives on 6 January. Both Chatham and Diligence, as well as the OLRT, have now completed their tasking and are leaving the area.
	Of the five C-130 aircraft made available to support DFID, two have been used so far: one to move aid supplies between Norway and Denmark, and one to transport equipment to Sri Lanka. The larger C-17 aircraft has been used across the affected region. The Tristar has been used to bring tents and fuel into Penang for onward transport into the affected areas.
	A further OLRT deployed to Indonesia on 2 January, including to the Aceh region. MOD liaison officers have been deployed with the US, Australian and Indonesian military headquarters in the region.
	Two Bell 212 helicopters from the Gurkha Garrison in Brunei are currently conducting recce, humanitarian assistance and liaison tasks with the Australian forces in the Aceh region.
	Further, small, deployments of niche capabilities such as logistics planners and engineers have also taken place in response to DfID and OLRT requests.
	The MOD continues to work closely with DFID to determine the requirement for military assistance over the coming period.

Catering (Food Waste)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the policy is on the disposal of (a) untouched food left over from receptions in the House and (b) residuary food waste from catering outlets.

Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons Refreshment Department is required to take all reasonable precautions and exercise due diligence to ensure that their premises and working practices comply with the provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 and associated regulations. Its food disposal policy is designed to meet these legal obligations and to take all possible precautions against the risk of causing food poisoning to any person consuming food prepared by or sold by the Refreshment Department.
	The policy on the disposal of food left over from receptions is that same as the policy on the disposal of left-over foods from its catering outlets. Fresh-cooked foods that have retained a core temperature of 65oC or above while on display are chilled rapidly and are then either held chilled or frozen for re-use. Hot foods that have fallen below this safe temperature, or that have been re-heated, are disposed of with the general refuse. Chilled foods that have been maintained at a temperature of 8oC or below are retained and re-offered for sale provided that they are within any "use-by" date stamp. Foods which have exceeded 8oC are also disposed of with the general waste.
	Although the Department makes every effort to re-use foods that are still safe to consume, there are some occasions on which this is not possible. From time to time, the Department has contacted charities assisting the homeless to discuss the possibility of donating left-over food. Such inquiries to-date have been unsuccessful for two principal reasons: the charities (as part of their own due diligence procedures required under the food hygiene legislation) are unwilling to accept foods that have been prepared in our own kitchens; and, the charities have been unable or unwilling to make collection arrangements for any packaged foods because of the infrequency and relatively low quantity of such food being available to them.

Coal Mines

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether the extinguishing of burning coal mines falls within the scope of the clean development mechanisms introduced by the Kyoto Protocol;
	(2)  what assistance his Department has provided to developing countries seeking to extinguish burning coal mines.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol established the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The purpose of the CDM is to enable developed countries and economies in transition (more precisely, those countries that are included in Annex I to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) to meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets (5 per cent. compared to 1990 levels by the period 2008–12) at lowest possible cost by undertaking projects in developing countries. To be eligible under the CDM, projects must also assist in the achievement of sustainable development, and contribute to the attainment of the environmental goals of the Framework Convention.
	To fall within the scope of the CDM, any project proposal to extinguish burning coal mines would need to meet these three criteria. It would further need to be shown that the resulting emissions reductions were "additional" (i.e. going beyond what would have happened in the absence of the project) and calculated in accordance with an approved CDM methodology. To date, the Department for International Development (DFID) has not received any requests from developing countries to provide assistance to extinguish coal mine fires. We would encourage any country seeking international support to consider using the CDM.

Commission for Africa

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date he expects the report of the Commission for Africa to be published.

Hilary Benn: The members of the Commission for Africa are still working on their report and have not yet set a date for publication. Subject to discussion at the next full meeting of the Commission in February, the report may be published around the middle of March.

Debt Relief

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his budget is for spending on heavily indebted poor countries debt relief in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08 from (i) existing departmental spending plans and (ii) sources additional to those plans.

Hilary Benn: DFID's contribution to HIPC debt relief covers the UK pledge to the HIPC Trust Fund and the UK's policy of going beyond the requirements of HIPC to cancel 100 per cent. of all bilateral debts to HIPC countries. The vast majority of HIPC debt write-off is financed by the Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD).
	For the HIPC Trust Fund, DFID has budgeted £29 million in 2005–06, £20 million in 2006–07 and £20 million in 2007–08.
	It is not possible to predict accurately how much the 100 per cent. bilateral policy will cost DFID because the amount that will be cancelled under HIPC requirements (financed by ECGD) is not yet known. DFID has provisionally budgeted £14 million in 2005–06, £25 million in 2006–07 and £10 million in 2007–08.
	In addition, many HIPC countries will benefit from the UK's new multilateral debt relief initiative. The total DFID budget for this initiative is £30 million in 2005–06, £40 million in 2006–07 and £50 million in 2007–08. HIPC countries account for approximately 70 per cent. of the total cost.
	DFID has no budgets additional to DFID's existing spending plans.

Millennium Development Goals

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid channelled through the EU was spent in each of the last five years on schemes designed to achieve the millennium development goals.

Hilary Benn: The European Commission (EC) does not collate and publish data linking expenditure to specific activities in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, in 2003, the EC adopted performance indicators based on the MDGs to measure progress in partner countries in receipt of EC development assistance.
	In October 2004, the European Commission issued a report on the EC contribution to attaining the MDGs 2000–04. This report will inform the UN 2005 Millennium Review Summit in September 2005. The report does not make an attempt to attribute directly EC funds to MDG objectives, but does stress the importance that the EC gives to the MDGs and outlines further actions currently foreseen to promote their implementation.
	The report appears on the Commission's website: http://www.europa.eu.int.comm/development/body/publications/desript/pub7 2 en.cfm.

St. Helena

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the availability of fresh water on the island of St. Helena.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A period of very dry weather led to increased demand on fresh water supplies in St. Helena during the recent holiday period. Within an area that is supplied by the Hutts Gate water reticulation system, this created a water shortage. Water bowsers were introduced for one day only, and a hosepipe ban was imposed in the area on 5 January 2005. Supplies are now sufficient to cope with demand. Water use restrictions have not been required in other areas of St. Helena.

St. Helena

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects to make a decision on air access for the island of St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Options to maintain future access for St. Helena are under consideration.
	Decisions will be taken, in consultation with the St. Helena Government, as soon as it is possible to do so.

Water Privatisation

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on whether to support within the EU the inclusion of a requirement for countries to privatise their water delivery under the terms of GATS.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's overall objective in the water sector is to ensure that poor people lead a healthier and more productive life by increasing their access to safe drinking water supplies.
	It is for this reason that DFID believes that there is an important role for the private sector to play in helping meet these targets (and the Millennium Development Goals) through providing investment and sharing technical expertise and more efficient management practices.
	The GATS negotiations are a request and offer process hence there is nothing under the GATS that compels countries to liberalise the water sector if its not in their national interest. Governments remain free to, and should, regulate to address market failures and national policy objectives.

Departmental Policies (Clwyd, South)

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Clwyd, South constituency, the effects on Clwyd, South of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997.

Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Clwyd, South constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–07 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
	Responsibility for a number of transport functions has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. For example, it is the Assembly that provides funding to local authorities in Wales in support of their local transport plans,
	Finally, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.

Departmental Staff

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's staff is based in London.

Charlotte Atkins: Information on regional distribution of staff is available in the Libraries of both Houses, and also at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/statistical information/statistics/contents forcivilservice statistics 2003 report/index.asp.
	Table D shows the numbers of staff by regional distribution.
	Figures relating to 1 April 2004 are due to be published during February 2004.

Edinburgh-Paris Rail Link

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the viability of a direct rail link between Edinburgh and Paris.

Tony McNulty: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions commissioned Arthur D. Little to make a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of the options for Regional Eurostar services and their report, "Review of Regional Eurostar Services" was published on 17 February 2000. It concluded that there was not a positive economic business case for any of four options for direct regional services to Paris, including from Glasgow or Edinburgh. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has reviewed the market for direct international regional services, including demand from Glasgow via Edinburgh and the east coast main line, and has concluded that in terms of likely demand the position has if anything worsened.

EU Presidency

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's priorities for the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council during the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union will be; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The overall Transport Council agenda for 2005 is outlined within the Luxembourg-UK Annual Operating Programme (AOP), copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
	Ongoing work includes; the Third Railway "package"; the framework for charging heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures; and the European satellite radio navigation system "Galileo". New legislative proposals may also be brought forward by the Commission, possibly including: airport slot allocation; extension of scope of the European Aviation Safety Agency; access to air transport for passengers with reduced mobility; and maritime safety proposals ("Erika III").
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, leads on the telecommunications and energy aspects of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council.
	In the telecoms part it is expected that the e-Europe strategy up to 2010 will be taken forward and concluded, and that the future direction of the existing Universal Services Directive will be discussed. In the energy part of the TTE Council it is expected that the End Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive and the revised Energy Labelling Framework Directive will be taken forward, and any new proposals and communications put forward by the Commission ahead of the December TTE Council might be discussed.
	The final agenda for the UK presidency cannot yet be decided. It will be determined to a large extent by the agenda we inherit from the current presidency, and when specific Commission proposals are published.

Transport Industry Support

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government support for the transport industry in the last financial year.

Charlotte Atkins: The Government's strategy for transport was set out in the White Paper, "The Future of Transport", published in July 2004, At the end of the financial year the Department will be publishing its Annual Report which will set out what financial and other support has been provided for transport during 2004–05.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of crime and disorder reduction partnerships in aiding co-ordination between different agencies in tackling housing-related antisocial behaviour.

Hazel Blears: The Government recognises that partnership working at a local level is the key to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour effectively. The TOGETHER campaign, which targets a wide range of practitioners, including social landlords, is about ensuring that all agencies work together in delivering effective interventions.
	We are supporting both social landlords and other agencies in identifying and delivering local solutions to local problems by working together within the framework that Crime and Disorder Partnerships provide.

Asylum Seekers

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been removed to Zimbabwe since 16 November 2004.

Des Browne: In the period 16 November to 31 December 2004, inclusive, 40 asylum applicants were removed to Zimbabwe from the UK. This includes persons who left the UK under assisted voluntary return schemes organised by the International Organization for Migration, and those persons who departed voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated.
	This information has not been quality assured and should be treated as provisional management information only.
	National Statistics on the number and nationality of asylum applicants removed from the UK during the final quarter of 2004 will be published on the Home Office website on 22 February 2005 www.homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Car Theft

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many car thefts there were in each London borough in (a) each year since 2001 and (b) each month to date in 2004.

Hazel Blears: The information requested has been supplied by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and is contained in the following table.
	
		Recorded offences of theft of a motor vehicle by London borough Number of offences
		
			 Area 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,717 1,538 1,486 
			 Barnet 1,537 1,698 1,751 
			 Bexley 1,844 1,515 1,407 
			 Brent 1,591 1,625 1,941 
			 Bromley 2,086 2,239 1,950 
			 Camden 2,206 1,974 1,710 
			 Croydon 2,531 2,419 2,148 
			 Ealing 2,670 2,527 2,286 
			 Enfield 2,160 1,988 2,032 
			 Greenwich 2,570 2,433 2,289 
			 Hackney 2,861 2,616 2,429 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,257 1,133 1,114 
			 Haringey 2,853 2,412 2,301 
			 Harrow 753 998 857 
			 Havering 1,903 1,684 1,710 
			 Heathrow airport 45 43 59 
			 Hillingdon 1,833 1,707 1,570 
			 Hounslow 1,432 1,562 1,402 
			 Islington 2,651 2,330 2,232 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,197 1,094 1,008 
			 Kingston upon Thames 400 419 448 
			 Lambeth 2,995 2,806 2,305 
			 Lewisham 1,996 2,118 2,152 
			 Merton 1,033 905 999 
			 Newham 3,944 3,617 3,135 
			 Redbridge 2,598 2,093 1,872 
			 Richmond upon Thames 608 723 505 
			 Southwark 2,674 2,811 2,705 
			 Sutton 881 831 885 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,309 2,214 2,093 
			 Waltham Forest 2,010 2,254 1,995 
			 Wandsworth 1,965 1,818 1,367 
			 Westminster 1,408 1,482 1,390 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			  January February March April May 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 130 140 140 139 142 
			 Barnet 137 143 143 149 145 
			 Bexley 139 141 138 99 92 
			 Brent 139 158 154 128 154 
			 Bromley 176 146 182 136 154 
			 Camden 103 101 110 124 139 
			 Croydon 230 251 222 207 176 
			 Ealing 195 197 211 188 218 
			 Enfield 179 169 183 197 187 
			 Greenwich 223 189 171 194 199 
			 Hackney 195 201 220 173 175 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 61 90 93 83 90 
			 Haringey 202 212 222 200 202 
			 Harrow 77 50 60 78 75 
			 Havering 123 138 130 150 171 
			 Heathrow airport 3 2 3 1 3 
			 Hillingdon 146 141 166 134 107 
			 Hounslow 131 122 145 129 118 
			 Islington 131 116 149 111 128 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 97 100 98 86 81 
			 Kingston upon Thames 50 50 41 33 36 
			 Lambeth 178 138 161 141 124 
			 Lewisham 204 202 178 163 119 
			 Merton 72 79 77 73 90 
			 Newham 190 188 173 189 183 
			 Redbridge 174 173 189 140 157 
			 Richmond upon Thames 34 36 38 48 45 
			 Southwark 279 237 235 190 198 
			 Sutton 88 75 83 62 72 
			 Tower Hamlets 160 181 190 193 171 
			 Waltham Forest 162 189 145 146 153 
			 Wandsworth 131 115 127 138 120 
			 Westminster 108 86 103 87 102 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			  June July August September October 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 145 128 103 140 155 
			 Barnet 158 175 165 192 243 
			 Bexley 95 83 83 83 87 
			 Brent 150 160 139 122 175 
			 Bromley 123 119 121 156 144 
			 Camden 104 97 118 109 135 
			 Croydon 167 175 161 148 191 
			 Ealing 166 204 232 218 276 
			 Enfield 158 150 112 164 214 
			 Greenwich 152 144 144 176 178 
			 Hackney 150 131 137 219 198 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 88 92 72 81 81 
			 Haringey 180 193 161 140 195 
			 Harrow 51 56 50 69 71 
			 Havering 143 105 121 124 126 
			 Heathrow airport 1 3 2 2 4 
			 Hillingdon 115 133 143 162 123 
			 Hounslow 128 123 136 155 146 
			 Islington 130 128 110 127 128 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 90 77 79 73 98 
			 Kingston upon Thames 46 44 38 39 29 
			 Lambeth 150 131 171 175 158 
			 Lewisham 153 121 176 179 151 
			 Merton 76 65 79 65 71 
			 Newham 183 169 171 197 193 
			 Redbridge 150 128 133 147 165 
			 Richmond upon Thames 32 46 38 38 41 
			 Southwark 227 198 191 196 224 
			 Sutton 66 55 67 62 92 
			 Tower Hamlets 160 156 171 172 192 
			 Waltham Forest 120 115 131 161 143 
			 Wandsworth 125 120 127 125 103 
			 Westminster 106 109 108 105 86

Crime

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Department has to denote business crime as a separate category within its reporting of criminal activity.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office currently publishes annual total crime statistics recorded by the police in England and Wales for the following offences specifically relating to business crime; robbery of business property, theft by an employee, theft from shops and theft of an automatic machine or meter. The most recent figures are available in Statistical Bulletin 10/04 "Crime in England and Wales 2003–04" at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0304.html.
	However, we recognise that these figures provide a limited picture of the true nature of crimes experienced by the business sector. We are also aware that businesses do not report every incidence of crime for a variety of reasons.
	Bearing this in mind, on 26 November, the Home Office also published the initial findings of the 2002 Commercial Victimisation Survey. This provided further information on the actual levels of business crime as well as an indication of the proportion of businesses which report the crimes that they suffer.
	The Home Office Business Crime Team is also looking at how current information on business crime, including retail crime, can be enhanced, in particular, whether it is feasible to identify crimes against businesses in police recorded crime statistics through a pilot with South Wales.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youth crime offences have been reported to (a) Essex police and (b) Southend police in each year since 1997; and how many reports led to (i) prosecution and (ii) conviction.

Hazel Blears: Information is not collected centrally on the number of recorded offences involving youths. The reason for this is that the recorded crime series deals purely with offences and does not collect any details on the offender.
	Statistics on the number of juvenile defendants proceeded against and found guilty in the Essex police force area and South East Essex petty sessional area are given in the table. Court proceedings data is published on a calendar year basis. Data for 2004 will not be available until the autumn.
	
		Number of juvenile defendants aged 10–17 proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for all offences, 1997 to 2003 1
		
			  Juveniles (all offences) 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty(5) 
		
		
			 Essex police force area  
			 1997 3,232 2,201 
			 1998 3,366 2,305 
			 1999 3,330 2,239 
			 2000 3,483 2,275 
			 2001 3,696 2,540 
			 2002 3,234 2,230 
			 2003 2,977 2,086 
			 South East Essex petty sessional area(6) 
			 1997 791 534 
			 1998 864 553 
			 1999 851 538 
			 2000 616 417 
			 2001 764 554 
			 2002 680 463 
			 2003 595 419 
		
	
	(4) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(5) For South East Essex PSA the guilty figures include those found guilty at the Crown court where South East Essex PSA was the committing court.
	(6) Covers Southend and includes some parts of Rayleigh, Benfleet and Canvey.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the clear up rate for (a) burglary, (b) car theft and (c) possession of illegal drugs was in Southend in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to offences cleared up in the Southend Basic Command Unit and is given in the table.
	Information on the clear up rate for possession of drug offences is not available prior to 2001–02.
	
		Table 1: Clear up rates in the Southend basic command unit—1999–2000 to 2001–02 Percentage
		
			 Period Burglary in a dwelling Theft of a vehicle Possession of drugs 
		
		
			 1999–2000 18 19 n/a 
			 2000–01 21 18 n/a 
			 2001–02 20 24 96 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	Note:
	The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Clear up rates in the Southend basic command unit—2002–03 and 2003–04 Percentage
		
			 Period Burglary in a dwelling Theft of a vehicle Possession of drugs 
		
		
			 2002–03 15 15 92 
			 2003–04 13 16 100 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Custodial Sentences

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females aged 15 to 17 sentenced in each year since 1997 served their sentences more than 50 miles from their parents' homes.

Paul Goggins: The available information is in the following table. The figures were supplied by the Youth Justice Board and relate to persons placed more than 50 miles from their recorded home address. Information is not available for the years 1997–99.
	
		All sentenced 15 to 17-year olds more than 50 miles from home 2000(7)–04
		
			  Year admitted 
			 Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Gender (female):   
			 15 39 83 56 47 76 
			 16 42 71 73 71 88 
			 17 41 72 69 65 72 
			 Total 122 226 198 183 236 
			   
			 Gender (male):   
			 15 277 405 274 253 263 
			 16 437 610 437 349 427 
			 17 656 950 626 524 627 
			 Total 1370 1965 1337 1126 1317 
			   
			 Grand Total 1492 2191 1535 1309 1553 
		
	
	(7) data for 2000 is for 1 April to 31 December only.

Erkin Guney

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Scotland Yard's Anti-Corruption Squad's investigation into the circumstances leading to the wrongful conviction of Erkin Guney; when the investigation is expected to be concluded; when the results are expected to be presented to the Crown Prosecution Service; when Mr. Guney will be advised of progress; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Erkin Guney was investigated and convicted on 23 July 1996 for possession of heroin with intent to supply and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He received a 14 year prison sentence. Mr. Guney appealed three times against conviction and, on his third attempt in 2003, his appeal was upheld; grounds of an unsafe conviction were cited.
	I am advised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that on 23 July 2003 Mr. Guney made a complaint against the police for failing to investigate threats to kill him and for acting dishonestly in gathering information that led to his arrest and prosecution. The MPS referred the complaint to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) who agreed to supervise an MPS investigation into that complaint. The IPCC took over the supervision of the case on 1 April 2004 from the PCA.
	The investigation is continuing but, given the length it has been running, the IPCC has requested that the Investigating Officer's final report be completed by mid-February. On receipt of the report, the IPCC will review the case and, if it is satisfied with the conduct of the investigation, the investigation will be closed.
	On conclusion of the investigation, if the report indicates a criminal offence may have been committed, a copy of the report will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.
	The IPCC wrote to the complainant's solicitors on 14 January 2005 with an update on the current position and will continue to report progress to Mr. Guney until the matter is concluded.

Hunting Ban

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to the Association of Chief Police Officers in response to the request for further clarification of the legal position on enforcing the ban on hunting with dogs; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I have had discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on the enforcement on the ban on hunting with dogs. It is for the police to enforce the ban on hunting with dogs, when the Hunting Act comes into force. ACPO are producing guidance to all forces on the enforcement of the Act.

Identity Cards and Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 304W, on identity cards, what the value is of the contracts with each private sector company; and what work has been undertaken by (a) the private sector companies and (b) the Government bodies mentioned.

Des Browne: The Identity Cards Programme has received management consultancy advice from the following organisations:
	
		
			 Organisation Details Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Sirius consortium Advice on feasibility and scheme costs. 78,724 
			 SchlumbergerSema (Atos Origin) Programme and Project Management advice. 56,000 
			 PA Consulting Services Limited Project Management consultancy. 27,200 
			 Shreeveport Management Consultancy Facilitation of Workshops and Core Proposition development. 43,250 
			 Axon Group Plc. Proposals relating to Human Resources. 28,766 
			 Cornwell Management Consultants plc. Assessment of potential Public sector delivery partners. 47,548 
			 PA Consulting Services Limited Provision of management consultancy for the development of the ID Card Scheme. 6,527,760 committed up to 1 January 2005 
		
	
	And from these Government bodies.
	
		
			 Organisation Details 
		
		
			 Communications Electronic Security Group (GCHQ) Provision of advice on communications and general security. 
			 Office of Government Commerce Provision of general project management advice. 
			 Partnerships UK plc. Procurement and Contracting advice relating to potential Public and Private sector  interactions. 
			 UK Passport Service Provision of advice including work on costings and processes

Identity Cards and Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 335W, on passports, what the figures are for adult passport (a) applications and (b) renewals.

Des Browne: Table 1 outlines UKPS' 10-year forecast of demand for adult new passports and adult passport renewals.
	
		Table 1: Forecast of new and renewal adult passport applications
		
			  Adult new passport applications Adult passport renewals 
		
		
			 2005 649,948 3,845,410 
			 2006 615,779 4,314,519 
			 2007 591,032 4,032,225 
			 2008 565,403 3,849,008 
			 2009 535,685 3,331,655 
			 2010 536,686 3,586,329 
			 2011 537,412 3,874,613 
			 2012 538,176 3,765,436 
			 2013 538,733 3,777,595 
			 2014 538,748 4,227,314 
		
	
	These figures do not include applications for replacement lost or stolen passports or amendments to existing passports.

Mr. B. Mayo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate the reasons for the delay in resolving the case of Mr. B. Mayo.

Hazel Blears: Under the provisions of the Police Reform Act 2002, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) can investigate a case only if it has been recorded by a police force and referred formally to the IPCC. The Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in that process.
	However, it is a statutory function of the IPCC to determine if there are any lessons to be learned following an investigation and, if so, to make recommendations or give advice to the police service concerned or police services in general.
	I understand that Mr. Nick Hardwick, Chair of the IPCC, will be providing a substantive response to the hon. Member's letter of 13 January 2005 to the IPCC, in which he sought his assistance in resolving this case.

National Offender Management Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the introduction of the concept of contestability within the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: Contestability is the principle that best quality and best value for money in the supervision, punishment and care of offenders will be achieved through ensuring that all appropriate services are opened up to competition with other providers. We want the most effective and efficient services for offenders both in prison and in the community whether these are provided by the public, private, voluntary or "not for profit" sectors. The concept of contestability is being introduced within National Offender Management Service (NOMS) following its successful application within the Prison Service.

Police

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to support measures to improve the performance of Northamptonshire Police; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Police Standards Unit (PSD) has been working with Northamptonshire Police since the spring of 2004. This work has included a diagnostic phase which reviewed how the force manages burglary, vehicle and drug related crime. The review has also looked specifically at the use of forensic science and the custody processes in operation. The results of the diagnostic phase were a series of recommendations to enhance performance in each of the above areas, and these have been put to the force to consider for implementation.
	In addition to this work, the force has completed a review of its structure and policing style and as a result of this has put into place the Northamptonshire Policing Model (NPM). This model restructures the force around different policing units to enable the force to deal more effectively with incident management and with community issues, crime investigations, and prisoner handling. The PSU is part-funding consultants who are working with the force to ensure that the NPM is implemented with minimum disruption, and that the focus on performance is vigorously maintained.
	We are confident that the joint efforts of the PSU, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and Northamptonshire Police will result in substantial improvements in performance.

Police Methods

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of (a) rape and (b) murder investigations by (i) Cleveland police and (ii) other north eastern police forces a scene of crime officer was automatically despatched to the crime scene in the last period for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Police Numbers

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff each police authority in England and Wales has had in each year since 1995.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is set out in the following tables.
	
		Police officer strength, England and Wales, as at 31 March(Full-time equivalent)
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 3,000 2,981 2,989 2,976 2,999 
			 Bedfordshire 1,126 1,128 1,094 1,079 1,041 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,261 1,238 1,302 1,291 1,274 
			 Cheshire 1,932 1,998 2,046 2,042 2,071 
			 Cleveland 1,438 1,420 1,459 1,483 1,416 
			 Cumbria 1,167 1,115 1,144 1,164 1,126 
			 Derbyshire 1,797 1,763 1,791 1,772 1,759 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,877 2,899 2,865 2,962 2,887 
			 Dorset 1,288 1,263 1,284 1,310 1,279 
			 Durham 1,353 1,401 1,461 1,515 1,568 
			 Dyfed-Powys 976 991 1,005 1,002 1,026 
			 Essex(8) 2,921 2,884 2,961 2,928 2,891 
			 Gloucestershire 1,163 1,133 1,133 1,104 1,104 
			 Greater Manchester 7,037 6,938 6,922 6,949 6,810 
			 Gwent 997 1,044 1,243 1,233 1,247 
			 Hampshire 3,256 3,347 3,452 3,490 3,473 
			 Hertfordshire(8) 1,703 1,712 1,759 1,740 1,724 
			 Humberside 2,029 2,041 2,045 2,021 1,974 
			 Kent 3,117 3,120 3,260 3,251 3,201 
			 Lancashire 3,212 3,171 3,247 3,257 3,245 
			 Leicestershire 1,839 1,908 1,949 1,983 1,993 
			 Lincolnshire 1,199 1,145 1,196 1,191 1,140 
			 London, City of 885 869 859 825 778 
			 Merseyside 4,659 4,411 4,230 4,216 4,211 
			 Metropolitan Police(8) 27,480 27,343 26,677 26,094 26,073 
			 Norfolk 1,395 1,401 1,432 1,430 1,381 
			 North Wales 1,366 1,378 1,369 1,396 1,391 
			 North Yorkshire 1,300 1,324 1,338 1,367 1,337 
			 Northamptonshire 1,156 1,153 1,177 1,169 1,137 
			 Northumbria 3,606 3,668 3,677 3,769 3,840 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,319 2,318 2,323 2,323 2,225 
			 South Wales 3,014 3,027 2,976 2,986 2,981 
			 South Yorkshire 3,040 3,073 3,159 3,182 3,168 
			 Staffordshire 2,231 2,209 2,211 2,292 2,238 
			 Suffolk 1,191 1,138 1,180 1,186 1,190 
			 Surrey(8) 1,676 1,644 1,620 1,608 1,662 
			 Sussex 2,931 3,074 3,085 2,996 2,847 
			 Thames Valley 3,854 3,674 3,695 3,776 3,748 
			 Warwickshire 1,013 979 926 924 908 
			 West Mercia 2,046 2,017 2,040 2,010 2,025 
			 West Midlands 7,019 7,145 7,113 7,156 7,321 
			 West Yorkshire 5,050 5,142 5,209 5,155 4,982 
			 Wiltshire 1,261 1,218 1,154 1,156 1,151 
			 Total 125,180 124,844 125,051 124,756 123,841 
			 Total England and Wales (inc secondments) 127,222 126,901 127,158 126,814 126,096 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2004 (31 August) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 2,934 2,994 3,096 3,149 3,401 3,405 
			 Bedfordshire 1,028 1,036 1,069 1,106 1,181 1,172 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,237 1,296 1,362 1,384 1,400 1,409 
			 Cheshire 2,011 2,002 2,059 2,119 2,177 2,145 
			 Cleveland 1,404 1,407 1,461 1,582 1,687 1,616 
			 Cumbria 1,084 1,048 1,100 1,140 1,222 1,231 
			 Derbyshire 1,777 1,823 1,848 2,003 2,070 2,061 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,841 2,934 3,053 3,202 3,283 3,319 
			 Dorset 1,306 1,354 1,381 1,416 1,433 1,438 
			 Durham 1,558 1,595 1,614 1,651 1,685 1,679 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,040 1,055 1,132 1,149 1,160 1,165 
			 Essex(8) 2,806 2,897 2,946 2,989 3,098 3,106 
			 Gloucestershire 1,114 1,173 1,183 1,227 1,284 1,261 
			 Greater Manchester 6,795 6,909 7,217 7,343 8,042 8,061 
			 Gwent 1,264 1,274 1,333 1,341 1,372 1,394 
			 Hampshire 3,419 3,438 3,480 3,668 3,706 3,727 
			 Hertfordshire(8) 1,767 1,922 1,825 1,957 2,086 2,124 
			 Humberside 1,932 1,917 2,058 2,105 2,213 2,230 
			 Kent 3,204 3,319 3,355 3,487 3,576 3,530 
			 Lancashire 3,179 3,255 3,304 3,339 3,550 3,567 
			 Leicestershire 1,993 2,032 2,100 2,114 2,277 2,257 
			 Lincolnshire 1,115 1,202 1,198 1,221 1,228 1,211 
			 London, City of 732 703 764 808 853 866 
			 Merseyside 4,085 4,081 4,125 4,099 4,122 4,278 
			 Metropolitan Police(8) 25,485 24,878 26,223 27,984 29,735 30,021 
			 Norfolk 1,381 1,420 1,468 1,499 1,510 1,517 
			 North Wales 1,403 1,444 1,506 1,539 1,603 1,591 
			 North Yorkshire 1,283 1,305 1,417 1,444 1,529 1,535 
			 Northamptonshire 1,117 1,157 1,214 1,210 1,239 1,263 
			 Northumbria 3,788 3,857 3,929 3,943 4,040 4,056 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,204 2,275 2,330 2,411 2,484 2,523 
			 South Wales 2,926 3,154 3,222 3,239 3,279 3,264 
			 South Yorkshire 3,163 3,197 3,199 3,183 3,279 3,292 
			 Staffordshire 2,170 2,129 2,133 2,202 2,266 2,274 
			 Suffolk 1,145 1,133 1,203 1,253 1,304 1,302 
			 Surrey(8) 1,785 2,066 1,992 1,906 1,913 1,912 
			 Sussex 2,822 2,855 2,893 2,989 3,039 3,062 
			 Thames Valley 3,740 3,703 3,762 3,833 4,034 4,139 
			 Warwickshire 900 926 969 997 1,008 995 
			 West Mercia 1,887 1,951 2,018 2,256 2,355 2,349 
			 West Midlands 7,194 7,423 7,681 7,751 7,887 8,039 
			 West Yorkshire 4,822 4,815 4,889 5,029 5,275 5,370 
			 Wiltshire 1,118 1,120 1,157 1,158 1,217 1,200 
			 Total 121,956 123,476 127,267 131,426 137,105 137,956 
			 Total England and Wales (inc secondments) 124,170 125,682 129,603 133,366 139,200 139,728 
		
	
	(8) Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 between the Metropolitan Police (MPS), Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey reduced the strength of the MPS in 2000–01.
	Note:
	Officers on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave over 28 days are excluded.

Police Numbers

Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Hertfordshire in (a) 1995 and (b) 2004; and if he will make a statement on the percentage change in funding of the police service during that period.

Hazel Blears: On 31 March 1995 there were 1,703 police officers in the Hertfordshire Constabulary. The latest figure, for 31 August 2004, is 2,124 officers, an increase of 421, or 24.7 per cent. officers.
	The increase in officer numbers and funding for Hertfordshire Police Authority was affected by changes to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 1 April 2000, when parts of the Metropolitan Police District were transferred to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey. The effects of the boundary changes were incorporated into the police funding formula and the overall transfer was in terms of financial resources, not officers.
	However, 183 MPS officers were seconded to Hertfordshire on 1 April 2000 for up to two years to assist with policing while Hertfordshire Constabulary arranged to recruit its own officers for the expanded force area.
	General grants (comprised of Home Office principal Police Grant, Revenue Support Grant and redistributed business rates) to Hertfordshire Police Authority have increased by 45.4 per cent. between 1995–96 and 2004–05.
	In addition to general Government grants, Hertfordshire Police Authority has also benefited from specific grants for targeted programmes, first introduced in 2000–01, such as the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), to increase and maintain the number of police officers. Hertfordshire has had CFF funding to support the recruitment of 113 additional police officers.

Police Numbers

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent police officers are employed in the metropolitan police force; and what the figure was five years ago.

Hazel Blears: At the end of August 2004 there were 30,021 police officers in the metropolitan police service, compared to 25,485 in March 2000. Following boundary changes on 1 April 2000 with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey, the metropolitan police district was reduced in size and some resources were transferred to the other three forces. Metropolitan police service strength data prior to April 2000 is therefore not comparable with later data.

Police Standards Unit

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work that the Police Standards Unit has undertaken with Nottinghamshire police; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such work.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 January 2005
	The Police Standards Unit (PSU) has been working with Nottinghamshire police since the spring of 2003. Developed in close liaison with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, there is now a mature and comprehensive programme of work in place aimed at supporting the force to reduce and better investigate crime through delivering performance improvements in operational and organisational areas.
	The key areas of PSU work with the force are on improving capacity for forensics, intelligence-led policing (with a particular focus on drugs and major crime), performance management, and on tackling persistent offenders. PSD is also working with the force on management of serious crime, sanction detections, and tackling violent crime.
	In addition to the investment of time from PSU staff, the total cost of PSU's work with Nottinghamshire police to date has been £2.4million. This funding has been divided between provision of staff (including extra Scenes of Crime Officers and a drugs manager), infrastructure (e.g. provision of hardware) and consultancy support (e.g. on the force's performance management framework).
	Nottinghamshire police have achieved significant reductions in crime during the time that PSU have been working with them. For example, according to the latest figures from the force, over the last 12 months the number of domestic burglaries has fallen by 23 per cent., robberies by 26 pre cent. and vehicle crimes by 15 per cent., when compared to the previous 12 months.

Police/Prison Service

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have occurred to the entry level fitness tests for the (a) Police Service and (b) Prison Service since 2000.

Paul Goggins: The Police Service introduced a national standard for Recruitment Fitness Testing in April 2002. Prior to this, different forces used different Fitness Tests and different standards applied. Officers are tested prior to recruitment and during probation.
	1 April 2002—test consisted of:
	Speed and Agility, 27 seconds
	Grip Strength, 32 kgs
	Dynamic strength, Dyno Machine—Push 34 kg/ Pull 35 kg
	Endurance fitness i.e. Multi-stage shuttle run 1 Shuttle at level 8 (8/1)
	1 July 2003—following research conducted by the Prison Service (as set out) and a conclusion that the speed/agility element may not be justified, interim adjustments were made to the test pending further research. These were:
	Discontinuation of the speed/agility element
	Change to the required standard for endurance fitness to level 5–4 shuttles (5/4).
	2 August 2004—following further research and a decision to base the fitness requirement on the level of fitness needed for Officer Safety Training—the test was adjusted by:
	Discontinuation of the grip strength element of the test
	Currently, police recruits must demonstrate:
	Endurance fitness to level 5/4
	Dynamic strength—push 34kgs; pull 35 kgs
	A working party set up by the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales is looking at the on-going health and fitness of serving officers and fitness levels for officers in specialist roles.
	Prison Service
	Her Majesty's Prison Service introduced a mandatory annual fitness test for all new Prison Officers joining the service after 2 April 2001. Prison Officers are required to pass this test annually for the rest of their discipline career in order to meet the Services health and safety requirements. Since its introduction there has been two changes to the test.
	Change 1: The level of the Multi Stage Fitness Test (Bleep Test) was lowered to 5.4 from 6.5
	The reason for the multistage fitness test change was based on advice taken from Loughborough University who said that the minimum level of VO2m for a Prison Officer was 34.7, which equated to level 6.5 on a 20-metre bleep test.
	The Prison Service work to a 15-metre bleep test and it was proven by Roehampton University that the 15-metre course is harder than the 20-metre one. The minimum level of 34.7 VO2m on a 15-metre course is achieved at level 5.4, hence the change.
	Although the level of the bleep test was lowered it is still measuring the same level of VO2m which is the minimum fitness level required of a Prison Officer joining the Prison Service after 2 April 2001.
	Change 2 : The grip test which was lowered from 28kgf to 25kgf
	The grip test was reduced due to the Prison Service changing its testing equipment with the original dyno-meter being was much more user friendly and suited a smaller hand. The change to the dyno-meters was made due to the high cost of repair (they had to be sent to America) as they worked on a hydraulic system that continually leaked.
	The new dyno-meter disadvantaged Prison Officers with a small hand and so the grip test was lowered to 25kgf to accommodate this.

Sex Abuse (Historical Cases)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will summarise the guidance available for police forces regarding the interviewing of witnesses in historical sex abuse investigations

Hazel Blears: Guidance for police on appropriate techniques for investigating allegations of historical child abuse is included in the 'Senior Investigating Officer's Handbook—the Investigation of Historical/Institutional Child Abuse' produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
	Guidance on interviewing vulnerable or intimidated witnesses (VIWs) is contained in 'Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, including Children' issued in January 2002. This guidance became operational in May 2002 when it superseded "Memorandum of Good Practice on Video Recorded Interviews with Child Witnesses for Criminal Proceedings". Victims in sexual offence proceedings are considered to be intimidated. Other witnesses in these cases—but not the accused—may also be treated as vulnerable or intimidated.
	Achieving Best Evidence covers preparing and planning for interviews with VIWs, decisions about whether or not to conduct an interview and decisions about whether the interview should be video recorded or whether it would be more appropriate for a written statement to be taken. It covers the interviewing of such witnesses both for the purposes of making a video-recorded statement and also for taking a written statement, their preparation for court and any subsequent court appearance.
	Other guidance includes: 'Guidance on the Recording of Interviews with Vulnerable and Significant (Key) Witnesses' issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers; and 'Complex Child Abuse Investigations: Inter-agency issues' issued jointly by the Home Office and Department of Health.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders are held in prisons within 50 miles of their home.

Paul Goggins: As at 31 October 2004 (the latest date for which these figures are available), 2,375 of the prisoners convicted of sex offences were held within 50 miles of their home address 1 .
	1 A prisoner's home area is defined as their home address on reception into prison. For prisoners with no address, the address of the relevant committal court is used as the home address.
	In measuring the number of prisoners held under 50 miles from their home area, around 5 per cent. of the sex offenders are not included as they have no home or court addresses.

Special Constables

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables have been injured in the line of duty since 1 January 2001.

Hazel Blears: Information on the outcome of assaults on special constables has been collected centrally since 1 April 2002. For the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2004, there were 318 assaults on special constables which resulted in seven of them being seriously injured. The remaining 311 special constables suffered minor or no injury.
	Serious injuries are defined as those resulting from assaults for which the charge would be under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Departmental Staff

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of his Department's staff is based in London.

Maria Eagle: Information on regional distribution of staff is available in the Library and also at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/ statistical information/statistics/contents for civil service statistics 2003 report/index.asp
	Table D shows the numbers of staff by regional distribution.
	Figures relating to 1 April 2004 are due to be published during February 2005.

Newspapers/Periodicals

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the (a) newspapers and (b) periodicals taken by his Department in each year since 1997; and how much the Department spent on each in each year.

Maria Eagle: DWP was formed in June 2001 from the former Department of Social Security and parts of the former Department for Education and Employment, including the Employment Service. Information for the periods prior to June 2001 is not available.
	Information on the amount spent in each financial year from 2001 onwards is in
	the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Financial year Newspaper spend Periodical spend 
		
		
			 2001–2002 24,757.96 228,207.11 
			 2002–2003 (11)— 314,328.85 
			 2003–2004 (11)— 266,764.89 
		
	
	(11) Included in periodical spend
	A list of newspapers and periodicals purchased in financial year 2003–04 has been placed in the Library. Information on titles purchased prior to 2003–04 is not available.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2005, Official Report, column 777W, on pensions, what the percentage rates of contracted-out rebates for appropriate personal pensions are for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2004–05 for a person aged (i) 40 and (ii) 50 years; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table:
	
		Percentage rates of contracted-out rebates for appropriate personal pensions Percentage
		
			 Annual Earnings Bands Age 40 Age 50 
		
		
			 2002–2003   
			 3,900 to 10,800 10.80 19.80 
			 10,801 to 24,600 2.70 4.95 
			 24,601 to 29,900 5.40 9.90 
			
			 2003–2004   
			 4,004 to 11,200 10.60 17.80 
			 11,201 to 25,600 2.65 4.45 
			 25,601 to 30,940 5.30 8.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Contracted-out rebates for appropriate personal pensions are set at a level intended to reflect the value of the SERPS/State Second Pension benefit given up. SERPS was introduced in 1978 and so affected employed earners born in 1962 or later(i.e. those aged 40 in 2002–03. So, for those born before 1962, successively younger people have a lower SERPS/state second pension accrual rate. As a result, although the rebate for any one individual increases year on year until the cap bites, someone aged 46 in 2003–04 would have received a lower rebate rate in that year than someone aged 46 received in the preceding tax year.
	This information is set out in the Government Actuary's rebate consultation document for the last review of the rebates which set the rates for the period 2002- 03 to 2006–07. Also the report to Parliament when the rebate orders were laid, Cm 5076, particularly the table on page 12. These are available on the Government Actuary Department's (GAD) website.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether departmental special advisers have been responsible for authorising instances of departmental spending since May 1997;
	(2)  whether departmental special advisers have given instructions to permanent civil servants without the explicit authorisation of Ministers since May 1997.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 1258–59W by Minister of State for Cabinet Office, Mr. David Miliband.

Community Care Packages

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost of community care packages in the Province has been in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The combined gross Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) expenditure on domiciliary care, residential homes and nursing homes over the past four years, is as shown in the following table. Information on a comparable basis is not available for earlier years.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 289,700,654 
			 2001–02 314,212,537 
			 2002–03 389,059,551 
			 2003–04 417,428,318 
		
	
	This does not represent the cost to the HPSS of providing such services, because client contributions have not been netted off. For example, client contributions defrayed £80 million of the above 2002–03 costs. Client contributions for other years are not available.

Digital Hearing Aids

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new patients received digital hearing aids in the Province in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and how many new patients he expects to receive such aids in 2005.

Angela Smith: (a) Information on the numbers of persons provided with digital hearing aids is not available for the 2003 calendar year. However, during the period from October 2003 to the end of January 2004, a pilot monitoring programme was put in place, it recorded that approximately 2,000 persons were provided with digital hearing aids during this period.
	(b) With regard to 2004, the Department's target for 2004–05 states that "Boards and Trusts should provide the necessary additional staff and digital hearing aids to provide for an efficient and modern audiology service, supplying 5,000 digital hearing aids per annum by 31 March 2005." Boards and Trusts have indicated that this will be achieved. A similar level of service can be expected in 2005–06.

GCSE Qualifications

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the GCSE point scores for all school types in Northern Ireland excluding GNVQ Part 1 qualifications and GCSE short courses have been in each year since 2000.

Barry Gardiner: I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson) on 19 January 2005, Official Report, column 973W.

Hearing Impairment Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what communication training other than deaf awareness training to communicate with those who are deaf or hard of hearing has been undertaken by each Northern Ireland Office department in the last 12 months.

John Spellar: In the last 12 months Northern Ireland Departments have delivered the following communication training—'An Introduction to Sign Language' to 33 trainees, 'Sign Language Bridging Course' to one trainee, 'Sign Language Level 1' to four trainees and 'Text Phone Training' to seven trainees.

Road Signs (Fermanagh)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by the Department for Regional Development in County Fermanagh on replacing road signs that have been destroyed by graffiti or other defacing between September and December in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Member in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Donaldson, dated 25 January 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding how much was spent by the Department for Regional Development in County Fermanagh on replacing road signs that have been destroyed by graffiti or other defacing between September and December in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004 (210881) I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	While we do keep records of the costs of replacing roads signs in County Fermanagh, our records do not differentiate between signs that were replaced as a result of normal wear and tear, traffic accidents or graffiti. In addition, we record the costs of the removal of graffiti from road signs. The costs recorded for the periods you asked about, are detailed as follows.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Period Graffiti removal Replacement 
		
		
			 September to December 2003 1,150 720 
			 September to December 2004 1,850 550 
		
	
	I hope this information is helpful.

Saville Inquiry

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the total cost to the public purse of the Saville Inquiry into events in Londonderry in January 1972 has been, broken down by (a) legal fees, (b) accommodation, (c) transportation, (d) provision of IT equipment and (e) hiring of venues;
	(2)  when he will answer questions with reference numbers 206059 and 206060, on the Saville Inquiry, tabled on 15 December 2004.

John Spellar: On the figures available at the end of December 2004 the total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was £154 million. Breaking this down into the categories requested gives the following figures:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  NIO MOD 
		
		
			 (a) legal fees 51.430 29.381 
			 (b) accommodation 11.037 0.488 
			 (c) transportation 3.091 — 
			 (d) provision of IT equipment 12.769 — 
			 (e) hiring of halls 8.02 — 
			 (f) other (15)34.99 (16)2.351 
		
	
	(15) For the NIO this figure includes salary costs of tribunal members (except Lord Saville) and inquiry staff, witness expenses, expert witnesses, office services and security, telecommunications and other miscellaneous office expenditure.
	(16) For the MOD this figure includes inquiry related staff and support costs, a police investigation and other miscellaneous fees and expenses.

Suicides

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suicides there have been at prisons in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Ian Pearson: There have been 37 recorded deaths in custody over the last 10 years. Where the cause of death has been determined by a Coroner's inquest, 18 of the deaths were found to be suicide. An inquest is awaited on four deaths.
	
		
			  Total deaths (including suicides) Deaths recorded as suicides 
		
		
			 1995 3 2 
			 1996 5 4 
			 1997 8 1 
			 1998 2 1 
			 1999 4 3 
			 2000 6 4 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2002 2 (23)2 
			 2003 3 (24)1 
			 2004 4 (24)0 
			 Total 37 18 
		
	
	(23) In one case, the Coroner recorded a verdict of "did not die by own act".
	(24) Two further cases, in both 2003 and 2004, await the verdict of an inquest.

Allergies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on EU Directive 2000/13/EC in respect of ingredients listing and allergens.

Melanie Johnson: A recent amendment of European Union Directive 2000/13/EC on ingredient listing will require the declaration of all ingredients including allergens on pre-packed food from November 2005. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) consulted on the new requirements and the representations received indicated wide support for the new rules from allergy support groups and food manufacturers. In addition, a number of respondents identified the need for better control of the use of "may contain" allergen labelling, and the need for the provision of more allergen information for foods sold loose and in catering establishments. The FSA is actively considering with key stakeholders how best to encourage the provision of clearer, more helpful allergen information in these cases.

Chinese People (Care Provision)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms local authorities and other partners use to work together to provide accommodation with culturally appropriate services and extra care provision to Chinese older people under the National Service Framework.

Stephen Ladyman: It is the responsibility of local commissioners and providers to work together to ensure that the provision of all health and care services are receptive to the needs of people from different ethnic communities and respect cultural differences, as promoted in the national service framework for older people. The provision of "Extra Care" housing does not preclude any ethnic group.

Choosing Health

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Delivery Strategy for the public health White Paper, Choosing Health.

Melanie Johnson: A commitment was given in the public health White Paper, "Choosing Health", to publish a delivery plan "early in 2005". The date of publication has not yet been finalised.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total external spending by his Department was on public private partnership (PPP) consultants in each of the last two years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 162W, in which I listed expenditure by the Department and the national health service on external consultancy services in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04. It is not possible to identify separately the figures for consultancy spend on public private partnership consultants.

Hepatitis C

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice the Government have given to primary care trusts concerning the relationship between hepatitis C and chronic disease.

Melanie Johnson: The national health service hepatitis C awareness website at www.hepc.nhs.uk and associated publication, "Hepatitis C: essential information for professionals and guidance on testing", both contain information on hepatitis C and liver disease. Guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C also contains similar advice.

London Heart Hospital

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of purchasing the London Heart Hospital; whether the hospital is working at full capacity; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 24 January 2005
	This is a matter for the Chair of the University College London Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust. I have written to the Chairman, Peter Dixon, informing him of the hon. Member's enquiry.

Mobile Phones

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent international research he has assessed on the health risks of mobile phone masts.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 18 January 2005
	The National Radiological Protection Board provides statutory advice on risks from exposure to radiation and electromagnetic fields. Their recent publication "Mobile Phones and Health 2004" (Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 15, No. 5, 2004) issued on 11 January has reviewed the possible health implications of mobile phones and base stations and made a number of recommendations. Appendix D of the report lists and summarises recent research reviews from a number of different countries. The report is available on the NRPB website www.nrpb.org and copies are available in the Library. The Government are currently considering the recommendations.

MRSA

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has evaluated on the proportion of people who carry MRSA in their nostrils with no adverse effect to themselves; and what precautions are taken to protect hospital patients from medical practitioners who may be carrying MRSA in this way.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 17 January 2005
	Many people are known to carry methicillin resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) with no adverse consequences to themselves or others but precise numbers are not available. The prevalence of MRSA in hospital settings varies considerably and transmission is controlled by good infection control and cleaning practices. The Government have published guidance including "Winning Ways and Towards Cleaner Hospitals and Lower rates of Infection" to help the national health service locally control the spread of infection.

Public Bodies

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people are employed by the (a) Public Health Laboratory Service, (b) Family Health Services Special Health Authority and (c) NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body;
	(2)  how many people are employed by (a) NHS Estates, (b) NHS Professionals, (c) UK Transplant, (d) the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts and (e) the NHS University; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body;
	(3)  how many people are employed by the (a) Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, (b) Mental Health Act Commission, (c) National Care Standards Commission, (d) NHS Appointments Commission and (e) Retained Organs Commission; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body;
	(4)  how many people are employed by the (a) Dental Vocational Training Authority, (b) Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, (c) National Clinical Assessment Authority, (d) National Blood Authority, (e) NHS Logistics Authority and (f) Prescription Pricing Authority; what the running cost of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body;
	(5)  how many people are employed by the (a) Health Development Agency, (b) NHS Information Agency, (c) NHS Modernisation Agency and (d) NHS Pensions Agency; what the running costs of each body was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the future of each body.

John Hutton: Figures for gross operating costs and staff for these bodies were published in the 20 July report, "Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies". This report is available in the Library. Staffing levels and running costs will have changed since then and will be adjusted further in setting budgets for 2005–06.
	The National Care Standards Commission and the Retained Organs Commission were dissolved on 1 April 2004.
	A written ministerial statement about the future of these bodies was made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Reid), on Tuesday 30 November, Official Report, columns 24–27WS. An implementation framework, setting out the timetable and process for a number of changes, was published and copies are available in the Library.

Stewart Report 2004

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which of the recommendations from the Mobile Phone and Health 2004 report by Sir William Stewart have been implemented;
	(2)  whether he has met Sir William Stewart to discuss his report Mobile Phones and Health 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Sir William Stewart, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), announced the new report, "Mobile Phones and Health 2004"—Documents of the NRPB, Vol. 15, No 5, 2004—on 11 January 2005. The report has provided a review of the progress made since the Stewart Report in May 2000 and made a number of observations and recommendations. The report is available on the NRPB website at www.nrpb.org and copies are available in the Library. Ministers have not met with Sir William to discuss the report and officials are currently considering the detailed recommendations.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the contracts signed by his special advisers differ from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 17 January 2004, Official Report, column 753W.